Minstrel shows in the United States began in the 1820s and became formalized as full-length shows in the 1840s; the tradition peaked between about 1850 and 1870, and in Vermont the last recorded minstrel show was in Tunbridge in 1991.americanheritage+1
At the University of Vermont, the key dates are 1893 to 1969 for Kake Walk, the university’s longest-running blackface event, which was officially sanctioned during that period. The event was reinstated in 1897 in one historical timeline source, but the longer-running UVM tradition is commonly described as beginning in 1893 and ending in 1969.flowofhistory+2
1893: Kake Walk begins at UVM as an annual event.sevendaysvt
1897: One UVM history timeline says it was reinstated with blackface.americanheritage
1964: The NAACP formally criticized UVM for Kake Walk.americanheritage
1965: Contestants no longer wore blackface; green face paint was used instead.americanheritage
1969: Kake Walk ended at UVM.sevendaysvt+1
Minstrel-style performances continued in Vermont long after they faded in many other places, which is why UVM’s Kake Walk is part of a broader state history rather than an isolated campus event. The last recorded minstrel show in Vermont was in Tunbridge in 1991.vermontpublic+1